Distance instrument.



C. MLLER.

DISTANCE INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.13,1910.

1,000,282. l f PanaAug. 8,1911.

3 BHEBTSfSHEET 1.

WW BRM G. MULLER.

DISTANCE INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION )FILED SERT'. 13, 1910.

Patented Aug.- 8, 1911.

' s fiamme-SHEET z,

C. MLLER.

DISTANCE INSTRUMENT. l .APPLIOATIDN FILED SEPT.13,1910.

1,000,282. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

a emma-smania.

in #M l CARL MLLER, OF IHRINGSHAUSEN, NEAR CASSEL, GERMANY.

DISTANQE INSTRUMENT.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL MLLER, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Ihringshausen, near Cassel, in the Empire of Germany, have invented a new and useful Distance Instrument, of which the following is aspeciication.

The known distance instruments employed in shore-batteries for ascertaining the distance of any man-of-war or other vesselI present the defect that owing to the comparatively low height at which. the instrument is disposed the correction of the height depending upon the range of the tide, is not exactly the same for all distances, so that the variation `of the distance of an object renders a constant readjustment of the in-4 strument necessary' in order to measurements.

My invention consists of a distance instrument whichavoids this defect.

The lchief feature isla preferably conical drum covered with a -series of curves indicating the distances, which drum is revoluble around the vertical axis of the apparatus. By turning the drum the telescope is moved in a vertical plane, andthe distance can 4be read 'off on the drum by an indicator, which can be ,vertically adjusted on a rule provided with a scale corresponding to the range of the tide. The base of the apparatus is a disk, having at its periphery worm teeth, in which a worm can engage in order to turn the telescope around the vertical axis. The said-disk is provided above the worm teeth with a scale having the division oi a circle. A I nark at the indicating disk serves as an indicator for this scale. The tubular nave of the indicating disk carries a crosshead at one end of which the front end ofthe telescope is mounted to rock get exact -about -afh'orizont'al axis, while the rear end of the telescope'containing the ocular can beraised and lowered by means of a. vertical screw engaging in the other end of the .crosshcad At the upper 4edge of the drum an internally toothed ring is detachably mounted and can be horizontally adjusted.

'A pinion fastened at the `lower end of the screw meshes with the t'eeth ofthe toothedl ring and a knul-led knob at the `upper end of the screw serves for turning the screw, so that the floating-line of the respective manof-war or other vessel can be brought intothe horizontal line of the cross hairs .I will now proceed to describe my inven- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 13, 1910.

Serial No. 581,792.

tion with reference to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the new dista-nce instrument and accompanying Patented Aug. 8, 1911.`

vso

shows the telescope and a part of the tubular support in elevation, Fig. 2 is an end View of th-e same, when looked at' from the left in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 illustrates the connection ofV the tubular support with theV crosshead, Fig.

45 is a vertical section through the line A--A in Fig. 5, when looked at from left, Fig. 5

a vertical section through the line CHC in Fig. 1- and shows the worm and the parts for moving itl into and out ofengagement with the worm teeth ofv the base disk,-I*`ig. G is an elevation of the parts shown vat Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 y is an end .view of the vsame .when Vlooked at from the left, Fig. S is a vertical C section through the line B-B in Fig. 6,'

when looked at from righ-t, Fig. 9 illustrates the manner in which the toothed ring at the upper edge ofthe drum can be released and secured, Fig. 10 illustrates the connection between the support for the telescop'and the raising and lowering ,'screw, Fig. 11 shows a part of the rule and the slide with the indicator, Fig; 12 is 4a section through the line D-D in Fig. l1, and Fig. 13 illustrates the connection of the telescope with` the crossheadl Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the severalA views. l denotes a base disk which 'is placed on some table 4or other support by means of i three adjustingfeetotthe following construction. A boss 2 is screwed into the base disk 1 and has a threaded hole, in which a screw 3 engages. The screw 3 may be made y in one with a globular pivot 4 anda knurlyedA knob 5 and can be Secured by a counter-nut G. The pivot 4 'engages in a socket 7 which is bent over it by rolling o r otherwise and is made in-one withy ia disk 8,.thatv is placed on the table or` the like. The base disk 1 is at. is periphery providedwith worin teeth 9 and above them with a rim l() which on its conical outer surface is provided with a division of a circle serving as a scale 11 (Fig. 2). In the nave 12 of the base disk l is secured a hollow pillar 13 by means ofa key 14 or thelike. Preferably the pill lar 13 is provided with a collar 15 which bears on the nave 19... A tubular support 16 is mountedon the pillar 13 to turn,`which bears with its lower fiange 17 against the collar 15 oli the pillar 'andisfat .its upper end se.. off and provided with a screwthread asis clearly shown at Fig. 3. A crosshead 17 engages in this screw-thread and is secured by means of .a disk 18 and a bolt 19, which latter passes through a central hole at the top of the pillar 13 and bears with its head 2O from below against the underside of the said top. The bolt 19 engages by means of a screw-thread' in the disk 18 and is therein secured by a counter rim 10. A mark 25provided on the conical part of the disk 28 serves asan indicator forthescale 11. The conical rim of the disk 23'is in one placecut out, so that` aplate 26 can engage in the: cut. formed. The plate 26 is fastened on. the disk 28 by several screwsv 27, 27 and extends tov without, so thatV a plate 28 can be attached to' its under-' si'de` byrneans of screws 29, 429. In Fig. 5 the 'plate 28 has at its left end a cylindrical hole l30- and at its vvright end a slot-31 (see is permitted tov rock.

FigfS). A.b'eari-ng 32 isconnected with the lat-e 28 a bolt- 33 passingthroug'h the liole 30'4 andby a nut 34, so that this bea-'ring Another vbearing isconnected with the plate 28 a holt-36` andjafnut 38, which latter -bears on a .washer 37? `Asthe bolt passes through the-slot 3],

Aand is not 4tightened by the' nutBS, it will beun'derstooth that the bearing 3 5 can bea little slilfted and rocked onf theplate 28.

A tube' 39 is fastened -in the bearing 35 by ,fneans of a screw 110. A Shaft 41 made in v'fone with a Worm '4 2 and a. collar 43 is rnounted toturn Ain thetwo hearings 32 and 35jand 1s prevented from endwise m'rtlonby a disk `Hand a screw 45. A set-olf kululfed. knob t6- is fastened at the rightend of the shaft 4lgin Figs. 5 and Gand is providedon i the outside-of its reduced part. witha scale 4:7. A small handle 4-8 made in one with a cam 49 (Fig. v4) is mounted to turn on the tube .S9-and prevcnedl from endwise tnotiondiy'a lube 5() inserted between it "and the knob/t6. -An indicator 5l for the scale 47` is fastened von the tube() by afscrew lient-iin; 'fliifa'ndftherebythe vhandle 48 is foret-d against the 'pin 52. When tlleilian-(lle nut..

48 occupies its 'normalpositionj'-showuplft Fig. 4, the worm 42 is to engage in the teeth 9 of the base disk 1. However, when the handle 48 is turned upward with the finger in a horizontal position, its cam 49 will strike the pin 52, so .that the shaft 41' will be thereby pushed to the front and conse quently the worm 42 will be moved out of engagen'ient with the teeth. Then the indieating disk 23 can be turned with the tubu lar support 1 6 around the pillar 13.

A tube 54 (Fig. 1) is mounted on the tubular support 16 to turn and is prevented from endwise motion by the nave of the indicating disk 23 and by a ring 55 fastened yon the support 16 by ascrew 56. The tube-v 54 has a flange 57, on which a conical drum is fastened. The lower end of the drum 58 isfmade cylindrical, so that space for an angle-piece 59 is obtained, which is fastened on the 'plate 2 6 by screws or the like and serves for holding an inclined rule 60. This rule is parallel to the side ofthe drum 58 andA is on its outside'providcd with a, scale 61,'which will be referred to later on. The drum 58 is on" its outside provided with curves 62, 62 and-a perpendicular 63 which 'will belikewise referred to later on.

slide 67 is-mounted on the rule 60 to move` and is provided'with aleaf spring 68 (Fig. 1 1) bymeans of which it can be elastically adJusted It 1s provided with an arm 69,

on which an Aindicator 70 for the curves 62,' l

mounted to turn, which can be secured and released bya screw 65y (Fig. 9) bearing against a pressing piece 66.

A nut 72 (Fig. 1 is pressed intoal hole at the .left end of :the crossheadv 17 and -a vertlcal`Ladjusti11g screw 73 engages-in 'this At thelower smooth end-of the screw 73 'a long pinion 74 is fastened byme'a'n's of a key 75, which pinionmesheswith. the toothed ring 64,.v The screw73 is connected 4with .a knurled knob 7 6 by means of which' lt is further pivotally l it'can be turned. ce'nected. with' a supporting` disk 77 rby means of a vball 7S and ay socketl 79 (Fig. 10). I 115 A telescope 8() of any' knownconstruct-ion is euuiloyed; which is provided with two mountings Stand- 82, and a duu'lpyslevel 83.

The mounting-81jhas aj plan e sl' face which hears on the supportingdisk? Of course these two bearing surfacesrequirev to- -be ground an(l '1 1ccly. titled to,s ther s0- 'as 4 'to insnije the' exactness ofthe? trument The other mounting 82 ispivl :coni the.'crosshead17 in, Fig. 1. by means-fof aslightly conical holt84. (Fig. 13), which is mounting 8.2."

' l The vlist-ance iiutrument is operatedas tally and in such izo ."80- is inclined, the 4larger- Will be the an'e follows: 1t is disposed at some known height above the level of the sea and its b ase disk 1 is by means of thethree adjusting feet 2, 3, 4, 5,` 6, 7, 8 carefully placed horizon a manner, that the zeropoint of the4 scale l1 occupies the same position as that of' the gun battery. Thatis to say, the horizontal radius connecting the zero-point of the scale 11 with the vertical axis of the instrument is placed parallek to the straight line connecting the zero-point of the scale at each gun with the respective center. Thcreby'the guns crew is enabled to tu rn the gun through the same horizontal angle as that through-Which the telescope 80 of the instrument has been turned. The 'adjusting screw 65is `then unscrewed for releasing the toothed ringr 64, whereupon the drum 58 is turned into such a position that the indicator points at the initial line 63.

Now the telescope 80A is vertically adjusted.

by means of the knurled knob 76 so as to bring the dumpy-level 83 into its horizontal position, when t-he aXis of the telescope Will be -in a. horizontal plane. Then the adjusting screw is again screwed home, after whichV the position of the drum 58 may be once more corrected with the aid (if the dumpy-level 83 by' exactly adjusting the indicator 70.- For maklng any measurement, 1t is necessary to lirst `move the slide 67 into that position on the scale 61- which correspondsA to the momentary height of the level of the sea. When by means of the. dumpy-level 83. the telescope has beenbrought into a horizontal position, .as described above, it niustbe in a plane,

which is not that of the actual horizon ofV V:the sea, but in theoplaneof an ideal horizonassumed to be ad infinitum (OO), For'this reason the initial line 63 marked with must be in the vertical radial plane of-the drum 58 passing through the indicator 70'as isshown atFig. 2,as long dica-ted bythe zeropoint ofthe scale 11,

When aitter the adjustment-of the slide67 on the scale 61 asdescribed above the end' of thetelescope' 80 enough togbring the actual horizon of the sea into the horizontalline ofthe cross hairs the pinion 74 simultaneously turned will drum 58 so much that the indicator 76 points at the curve 62 marked with H. This line H'lis 'determined `bythe indicated position v,ofthe telescope. and by the varying tide. That isiosaynV the indicator-70j'must invariably poigntat the 1ine,H, after ithas been'adjusted 'in accordance 4with `the momentary. tide; The other `curves 62 are "determined inja H. vThat is' to say, the' 4more ,thev telescope e a through'yhjh the drum'58 is turned bythe,4

as the drum occupies` its initialiposition in knurled knob l76 is turned to raise the rear4 have turned the' turn,

*similar manner to theline pinion 74.-, and for the same position of the telescope the indicator 7() is required to invariably point at the same curve 62, after it has been adjusted on they scale (il in accordance with the nnjnnentary tide.

It at any moment some vessel is sighted and is not in the vertical plane of the telescope, the handle 48 is turned upward, so as to Withdraw the worm 42 from the teeth 9 of the base disk l, and the indicatingr disk 23 (which is rigidly connected with the telescope) is by means of the plate 28 rapidly turned unt-il the vessel approximately appears in the vertical line of the z cross hairs Whereupon the handle 48 is again turned downward. Then the knurled knob 46 is so turned as to bring the vessel exactly into-the vertical line of the cross hairs. Now the angle which the vessel makes With the zero point can be-read olf the scale 1'1 by means of the indicator and 'off the scale 47 by means of the-indicator 51. If the floating-line of the vessel. lis not in the horizontal'line of the cross hairs the rear end of the telescope 80 is by means of the knob 76 so much raised or lowered as to bring the oating-line of the vessel exact-lyA into the horizont-al line.

of the .e'ross hairs. Then the pinion 74 will have turned the drum 58 so much, that the indicator 70 Will indicatesome point in some curve 62 or between any -tWo of them. 'Provided' that t-he slide 68 occupies the right position on the rule 60l in accordance With the momentary tide the distance can be readV olf the curve 62 bearing the respective figure Vor off two curves 62, 62 bear ing' figures near that of the right distance. It is evident, that the nearer the vessel is the deeper beneath'the horizon Will it -be 'and therefore the more Will the rear end of the telescope have to be raised and consequently' the greater is the angle 'through which ythe .drum requires to be turned. Thereby the position of the several curves 62, 62V on the drum 58 is determined and their inclination is determincd'by the length of the scale 61 in accordance with the range of the tide. Of course knownmathematical formulae taining the curves 62 on the drum 58.

The distance instrument can be varied in will have to be used for ascermany respects Without departing from the,

spirit of my invention.

I claim: l 1. In a distance instrument-,the combination with a base, of a pillar secured in said,

a support mounted on said pillar to pbase,

means for determining the angular osltlon of s aid support in relationto said ase, a telescope ,mountedl on'` saidsupcrt to rock aboutafhorizontal axis'atnght angles to its.optical`axs;a measurin fdrulnj; n'lolinbd support to v4turn;around .mdjpillana .gearing so connecting telescope with said measuring:r drinn that. an ineliiiatioii 'of the telescope causes the drum to turn, and an indicator at said support.

2. In a distance instrument, the combination with a base disk, ot means for horizontally adjusting said base disk, a pillar sccured in the center of said base disk, a support mounted on said pillar to turn, means for determining' the angular position of said support in relation to said base disk. a telescope mounted n said supportto rock about a horizontal axis at right angles to its optical axis, a measuring drum mounted on said support to turn around said pillar, a gearing so connecting said telescope with said measuring drinn that. an inclination ofthe telescope causesthe drum to turn, and an indicator at said support.

3. -In a distance instrument, the combina.- tion with a base, of a pillar secured in said base,- a tubular support. mounted on said pillar t0 turn, an indicating disk fastened on said tubular support, means for determining th angular position of said'indicating disk in relation to said base, a crosshead fastened attlie upper end of said tubular support, a telescope pivotally connected with one end of said crosshead so as to rock about a horizontal axis atright angles to its-optical axis, a ifertical adjusting screWin the other end of said erosshead` a supporting disk so connected with the upper end of said adjust-ing screw as to be at. libert-y to Vmovel in all directions and adapted to support said telescope, means for turning said adjusting screw, a measuring drinn mounted on said tubular support to turn and having at the perlphery gearing teeth, a. pinion fastened at; the 4lower 'end of said adjust-ing screw. and meshing with the teeth of said measuring drinn, so that an Vinclination of thev telescope causes the drum to turn, and an indicator at said indicating disk.

'4. In a distance instrument, the combination with a base disk. of means for horizon` tallyadjusting. said base disk, a pillar se cured i-n the center of said base disk, a-support mounted on said pillar to turn, mea-ns toi.' determining the. angular position of said support in relation to saidha-se disk, a telescope mounted on said-supportto rock about" a. horizontal axis at right angles 'to its op-- tical axis, a measuring drum mounted onl 'i -sa-i'd Asupport to turnfaroiind said pill r, a

gearing-so connecting 'said telescope with" said measuring drinn that. an inclination of the Vtelescope causes the drinn to turn, and aufindieator iat sind Support.

5. Tn a distance instrument.. the 'combination with a base disk, of means for horizontally adjusting saidbase disk, a. pillar securedl ,in the center of said base disk, a support mounted on said pillar to turn, .means for determining the angular position ofl said support in relation to.'said'bas e disk, a telecator at said support.

(3. In a. distance instrument, the combina-- tion with a base disk, of means for horizontally adjusting said base disk, a pillar secured in the center of sadfbase disk, a tubular support mounted on said pilla-r to turn, an indicating disk fastened on said tubular support, ineans for determining the angular position of said .indicating disk in relation to said base disk, a erosshead fastened at the upper end of said tubular support, a telescope pivotally connected with one end of said crosshead so as to rock about a horizontal axis at. right. angles to its optical axis, a vertical adjusting,r screw in the other end of said crosshead, asiipporting disk so connected with the upper end ot said adjusting screw as to be. at liberty to more in all. directions and'adapted to support said telescope, means for turning said adjusting screw, a measuring drum mounted on said tubular support to turn and haring at the periphery gearing teeth, aV pinion fastened atthe lower end of said adjusting screw and meshing ivth the teeth of said measuring drum,

so that an inclination of the telescope causes the d riim t0 turn, and an indicator at said indicating disk.

7. In a distance instrument, the combinarrelation to said'base disk, a 'cmssliead fastened at the upper end of said tubulin-support, a telescope 'pii-'otally connected with one-end ofsa-id eiosshead so as to rock about a.l horizontal axis abright angles to its optica] axis, a vertical adjusting screiv in the other end of said crossheadl` a supporting disk so connected with the upper end of said adjusting; serfw as to he at liberty to move in Iall directions and adapted to support said -.tclescfqitg means for turning said adjusting screw, a measuring drum mounted on said tubular support to turn, a. toothed ring adjustable at the periphery of said measuring drinn, a pinion fastened at the lower end of said ,adjusting screw and meshing4 with said toothed ring, so :that an inclination of the Itelescope' causes the drum to turn, and an indicator atsaid indicating disk.

8.In a distance'instrument, the combinai t-.ion V'with a base, of a pillar se'cui'edin said base, a support mounted on said pillar to turn, means for detern'iining the angular po sitioii of said support in relation to said base, a telescope mounted onsaid support to rock about a horizontal axis at right anglesto its optical axis, a measuring druin mounted on said support to turn around said pillar,

- curves correspondingr to the range of the tide asordinate and to the distances as abscissas. 9. In a distance instrument, the combination with a base disk, of means for horizon tally adjusting said hase disk, a pillar secured in the center of said base disk, a support mounted on said pillar to turn, means for determininor the angular position'of said support lin relation to said base disk, a telescope mounted .on saidsupport to rock about a horizontal axis at right angles to its optical aXis,a measuring drum mounted on said support to turn around said pillar, a gearing so connectingT said telescope with said measuring drinn that an inclination of the telescope causes the drum to' turn, arule secured on said support and provided with a scale corresponding to the range of the tide, and an indicator adjustable on said rule, said measuring drum `having onJ its mantle curves corresponding to the range of the tide as ordinate and tothe distances as abscissas.

, 10. In adistance instrument, the combina tion with a base, of a pillar secured in said base, a tubular support mounted on said pillar to turn, an indicating disk fastened on said tubular support, means for determiningi the angular position of said indient# ing disk in relation to said base, a crosshead fastened at the upper end of said tubular support, a telescope pivotallyconnected with one end of said crosshead so as to rock about a horizontal axis at right angles to its optical axis, a vertical adjusting screw in the other end of said crosshead, a supporting disk so connected with the upper end of said adjusting screw as to be at liberty to move in all directions and adapted to support said telescope, means for turning said adjusting screw, la measuring drum mounted on said tubular support to turn and'having at the periphery` gearing teeth, a pinion Virastened at the lower end of said adjustingr screw and meshing with theteet'h o-said measuring drum, so 'that an inclination of' thc telescope causes the drum to turn, a rule secured on said indicating. disk and provided with a scale correspondingr to the range of the tide, and an indicator adjust-` ableon said rule, said measuring drum havingr on its mantle curves corresponding to the range of the tide as ordinate and to the distances as abscissas.

11. In a distance instrument, the combination with a base disk, of means for horizontally adjusting said base diskfa pillar secured in the center of said base disk, a support mounted on said pillar to turn, means for determining the angular position of said support in relation to said base disk,

a telescope mounted on said support to 4rock' about'a horizontal axis at right angles to its opticalaxis, a measuring drum mounted on' said'siipport to turn around said pillar` a gearing so connecting said telescope with said measuring drum that an inclinationof the telescope causes the drum to turn, a rule secured on said support and provided with a scale corresponding to the range of the tide, and an indicator adjustable on said` rule, said measuring drum having'I on .its mantle curves corresponding to the range of the .tide as ordinate and to the ,distances as abscissas.

In a 4distance instrument, the combination with a base disk, of means forhorizontally adjusting said base disk, apillar secured 1n the center of said base disk, a

support mounted on said pillar to `-turn,.

means ,for determining the angular position of said support in relation to said base disk, a telescope mounted on said support to rock about a. horizontal axis at right angles to its optical axis, a measuring drum mounted on said support to turn around said pillar, a

gearing so connecting said telescope with/ said measuring drum that an inclination of the telescope causes the drum4 to turn, a rule secured on said support and provided with a scale corresponding to the range of the tide, and an indicator adjustable on said rule, said measuring drum having on its mantle curves corresponding to the range of the' tide as ordinate and to the distances as abscissas.

13. In a distance instrument, `the combi-V nation with a base disk, of means'for horizontally adjusting said base disk, a pillar secured inthe center ofsnid base disk, a tubular support mounted on said illar to turn, an indicating disk sten:d at the lower end of said .tubular support, means for determining the angular position of said indicating disk in relation to said base disk, a crossliead fastened at the upper end of said tubular support, a telescope pivotally connected with one end of said crosshead so'as to rock about a horizontal axis at right angles to its'optical axis, a vertical adjust ing screw in the other end of said crosshead, a supporting'disk so connected with the upper end of said adjusting screw las to be at liberty to move in all directions and adapted to support said telescope. ymeans for turning said adjusting screw, a measuring drum mounted on said tub'ular'support to turn and having at the periphery gearing teeth, a pinion fastened at the lower end of said adjusting screw and meshing with the teeth of said measuring drum, so that an inclination of the telescope causes the drum to turn, a rule secured on said indicating disk and provided with a scale corresponding to the. range of the tide, andan indicator adjustable on said rule, said measuring drum having on its mantle curves corresponding tothe range. of the tide as ordinate and to the distances as abseissas.

i4. In a distance instrument, the combination with a base disk, of means for horizontally adjusting said base disk, -a pillar secured in the center of said hase disk, a tubular support mounted on said pillar to turn, an indicating disk fastened at the lower end of said tubular support, means for determining` the angular position of said indicating disk in relation to said base disk, a erosshead-fastened at the upper end of said tubular support, a telescope pivotally connected with one end of said'orosshead so as to-roek about a horizontal axis at right angles to its optical axis, a vertical adjust:-

ing screw in the other end of said erosshead,

`a supporting disk so connected with the uper end of said adjusting screw as to be at iberty 4to move in all directions and adapt- 30 ed to support .said telescope, means for turning said adjusting screw, a measuring drum mounted on said tubularsupport to turn, a toot-hed ring adjustable at the periphery of said n'ieasining drum, a pinion fastened at 35 the lower end of said adjusting screw and meshing with said toothed ring, so that` an inclination of the telescope causes the drum to turn, a rule secured on said indicating disk and provided with a scale correspond- 40 ing to the range of the tide, a slide adjustable on said rule and having an arm, and an indicator adjustable on the arm of said slide, said measuring drum havin-g on its mantle Curves corresponding to-thenange-of the tide asv ordinate and to the` distances as abseissas.

CARL MLLER.

lVitnesses HERMANN J oasi-11M, ERNST Kansen. 

